Ruminations 2 of 3: Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment

The first time I heard Adam Lambert scream his heart out (and his head off) on American Idol, I sat up. To my mind, this was Robert Plant reborn. All he needed was his Jimmy Page alter-ego and we would have our very own Led Zep of the new century.

Alas, the music industry machine has grasped Adam in its maw, swallowed him and spat him out again as a cookie-cutter nondescript papster (yes, a popster who proffers pap is a papster).

On For Your Entertainment he dabbles in electronica, techno-pop, strange popping arrangements and generally forgettable gimmickry. (Case in point: Sure Fire Winners. Blech.) Occasionally, he goes completely over the top with strings and orchestra as in Soaked. Aerosmith or Guns n’Roses could pull that off. Adam sounds uncomfortable. Even the hard-working guitar solo in the middle of Sleepwalker can’t quite wake me up.

Adam shares writing credits on no fewer than four songs of the fourteen, so he really must get a fair share of the blame for this pedestrian run-of-the-mill affair.

It’s not that these are bad songs. From an artist with lesser potential, I would probably have rated this album higher. From Adam Lambert, however, this is a disappointment. I doubt that this album merits too many re-listens.

About the only song worthy of a re-listen is the one from the mega-disaster movie 2012, Time For Miracles. Mega-disaster this album, may not quite be, but it is time for a miracle to pull this chestnut out of the fire.

On my personal, arbitrary scale, I’ve rated none of the songs of the fourteen as five stars, one as four stars, most as three stars, and one poor unfortunate as two stars and a half.

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Ruminations Interrupted by: Allison Iraheta - Just Like You

Another great album from a talent show finalist. I had intended to review Adam Lambert’s offering next, but I just got Allison’s album and on listening to it, I decided it merited a review way before Adam’s.

Her distinctive rocker husky growl and yell is put to good effect in this selection. Forget about her being 17 years old. She’s a natural who sings with the authority and experience of a thirty-seven year old - that’s a heck of a compliment. Reminds me of Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, among others.

Good, solid songs, not a turkey among them, but the standouts are Holiday (co-written by another talent show finalist, Dilana - we have a lot to be grateful for as far as these shows go) and Still Breathing. Honourable mentions to Friday I’ll Be Over You, Robot Love, Beat Me Up.

Allison plays to her strengths and doesn’t put a foot wrong. 21st century girl pop/rock with strong hints of classic rock chops. 

On my personal, arbitrary scale, I’ve rated two songs of the thirteen as five stars, seven as four stars, two as four stars, one as three stars and half a star, and two as three stars.

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Ruminations on Albums Three - Primo

Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream



A glorious showcase for this lady’s remarkable voice with some predictable song choices and one truly inspired, unlikely winner. For Ms Boyle to have recorded I Dreamed A Dream (from Lés Miserables) was a foregone conclusion since that was the song from the British talent show that launched her into YouTube stardom and brought goose bumps to millions, yours truly included.

Other chestnuts, while perfectly worthy renditions are nevertheless fairly predictable (though no less beautiful for that) when a voice like Ms Boyle’s is on display. Amazing Grace? Check. Cry Me A River? Check. How Great Thou Art? Check. Silent Night? Check.

Ms Boyle’s voice seems custom-fit to soar in cathedrals and echo in spires and the apparent preponderance of religious-themed songs or, at least, songs that sound religion-inspired on her album is not very surprising. A hint that Ms Boyle may be more than a one-trick pony, however is provided by three song choices on the album.

One is Daydream Believer, originally recorded by The Monkees as a chirpy, peppy uptempo pop song. Ms Boyle slows it down and gives it gravitas and depth. Another is Madonna’s You’ll See, again suitably measured in pace yet dramatic.

But the song that really blew me away was the unlikeliest choice of all: Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones. Susan Boyle doing Mick Jagger? Holy guacamole! She pulls it off and how! Wild Horses is a stand out bluesy number from the Stones’ Sticky Fingers album and Ms Boyle treats it with great respect. The delicate piano accompaniment and her wonderful voice, restrained at first, then soaring gloriously through the chorus makes this an instant and complete classic, a beautiful reinterpretation of a great song that transforms it into something wonderful and fresh.

On my personal, arbitrary scale, I’ve rated seven songs of the twelve as five stars, two as four stars and half a star, two as four stars, and one as three stars and half a star.

Ruminations on Albums Three

Over the last three days, while alternately galloping and plodding through the dying days of NaNoWriMo, I encountered three new albums, one by an established multi-Grammy Award winning artiste and two freshman efforts by newcomers, each of whom had been the runner-up in their respective talent competition.

The contrasts could not be starker.

Watch this space for entirely subjective reviews of:
I Dreamed A Dream - Susan Boyle
For Your Entertainment - Adam Lambert
The Wall - Adam Lambert